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Sputum test

Sabrinabar06
Sabrinabar06
Has anyone ever had s sputum test? Care to share your experience?

My dad is still trying to identify something on his lung - a PET scan shows that it's not Cancer, but it's still there. Doc is wondering if it's a new or old infection. Anyone been there????
bjrapp2020
bjrapp2020
Are they just now finding this thing after having him in there so long and all the test they ran? I have no idea what a sputum test has to do with the lungs, but it is very possible it is some sort of fungus they are looking for? I have nodules, but they have been there for years. So it could be scar tissue, nodules, lung fungus, or nothing at all, a shadow. I really can not think of any thing because I am still amazed they are just now finding it? Well someone with bit more wisdom than I will come along with better suggestions. Please keep us posted...
BJ
Sabrinabar06
Sabrinabar06
Well, in June they found this "thing" - doc thought it was mucus but the necessary tests to rule out Cancer. They did. 3 months after his pet scan, it's still there and his doc wants to if its an old infection or new. Apparently, the sputum test will determine that?!? I'm clueless!
deleted_user
deleted_user
Numerous diseases can be diagnosed from sputum. Cancer and TB being two of them. Also fungal diseases. The Doc will give you a container to put a sputum specimen in. If you are unable to deep cough a specimen, they can suction your lung to get one. I was diagnosed with lung cancer in my 30's. Turns out it was a fungus infection that I caught from the doves I raised.
bjrapp2020
bjrapp2020
I am clueless too honey...but maybe they know what they re doing. I am still learning things on this forum that I never heard of....I hope they find out, and hope someone that knows will comment and make you feel better...

BJ
Sabrinabar06
Sabrinabar06
Thx! Was just wondering if this was common practice,
jarca
jarca
a sputum test is to run a culture when someone is sick to narrow down if it is fungus or bacteria the dr id dealing with.
it is also common in TB to see if the meds are working and if the tb is going into remission.

http://www.webmd.com/lung/sputum-culture
jarca
jarca
ps. sabrina they are probably doing it on your dad to find out just what he has and what antibiotic or treatment will work best for him.
good test & i hope they find & treat the problem
(((HUGS)))
sunny2216
sunny2216
Sputum comes from the lungs and mucus from the sinus. As the sinus drains and sputum is coughed up they mix and are coughed out.
S
Sabrinabar06
Sabrinabar06
Thanks for the info!!
You are all a wealth of information!